Paper strap



March 7, 1950 1 J, p. CRARY I 2,499,463

PAPER STRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb; 12, 1946 Fig. 7

Jay- D. Crary INVENTOR Fig.8-

ATTORNEY March 7, 1950 I J, D. CRARY PAPER STRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed F eb. 1:2, 194s Fig.- n

INVENTOR.

Jay D. Crary ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1950 PAPER STRAP Jay D. Crary, Portland,.0reg., alsignoi' to Paper Strap, Inc., Portland, Greg a corporation of Oregon Application February" 12, 194.6, Serial No. 641,163

The present invention relates to a new and 1 Claim. (Cl. 22952) novel paper strap and to methods for manufacturing the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved paper strap which is inexpensive, strong and particularly useful for forming handles ior bags, cartons or the like or for tying bundles or packages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method whereby relatively durable strap may be manufactured from paper quickly and economically and which method may be carried out with relatively simple means.

The instant application is a continuation-inpart of my prior application, Serial No. 561,662, filed November 3, 1944, and which application was in turn a continuation-in-part of the application Serial No. 536,125, filed May 18, 1944, which applications are now abandoned.

In accordance with an illustrated embodiment, the invention comprises a strap formed from a substantially continuous strip of relatively thin and tough paper having its opposite marginal edge portions folded over upon itself a plurality of times throughout the full length thereof. The folded edge portions extend on the same side of the strip, the width of each folded portion being less than one-half the total width of the finished strap whereby the folded portions lie fiat in a nonoveriapping relation against the center strip portion. The folded strap is then provided with a multipicity of closely adjacent creases or crimps extending through'all of the paper layers of the strap and the folded edges compacted whereby the folds are set and the strap rendered relatively flexible or pliable.

For a consideration of what is believed novel and inventive attention is directed to the follow-. ing description from which additional objects and advantages will appear while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating the opposite sides of a piece of paper strap constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of the. strap shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is an elevational view illustrating one method of manufacture of the strap; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating in greater detail the manner in which paper strap according to one modification of the invention may be folded; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of paper strap corresponding to Fig. 3 but illustrating additional modifications of the invention; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section further illustrating one detail shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a view in perspective illustrating a further modification of the invention; and Figs. 11 and 12 are views in perspective illustrating typical applications of the paper strap of the invention.

Referring to Figs. '1 to 3, a section of paper strap of the present invention is shown at Ill and which consists of an elongated strip of relatively thin tough paper, such as Kraft paper, and which has its opposite marginal edge portions folded over upon itself a plurality of times throughout its entire length. These marginal edge portions H and [Z are folded over upon the same side of the strap for reasons as will subsequently appear. In order to provide the desired tensi.e strength ior the strap, the opposite edge portions are folded over a plurality of times, and preferably not less than three, in which case four thicknesses of paper occur at eacn edge. It will be noted that the raw edge of the strip of paper from which the strap is formed is thus arranged toward the center oi the strap so that only folded or doubled edges of paper extend along the outer edges of the finished strap to provide maximumstrength and toughness thereto for resisting any tendency for the strap to be torn through.

Attention is directed to the fact that the total width of the folded edge portions H and I2 is no greater than one-half the width of the finished strap in order that the two folded edge portions will lie fiat, that is, in a nonoveriapping relation against the portion of the paper strip extending therebetween.

The paper strap of the invention is particularly adaptable for large quantity production by machine methods thereby contributing materially to low cost manufacture therefor. As illustrated more clearly in the views of Figs. 4 and 5, the paper strap maybe formed in continuous lengths from rolls in of paper, the web 2| from which may be passed through guide rolls 22 and a suitable folding mechanism indicated generally by the dotted lines 23. The folding mechanism 23 is so devised so as to fold over the opposite edge portions of the strip a plurality of times throughout the entire length thereof, the folding operation of the strap being more clearly illustrated in the fragmentary view of Fig. 5. The details of the mechanism 23 are unimportant insofar as the present disclosure is concerned, it being obvious that any suitable folding mechanism may be provided.

Since the opposite edge portions l l and [2 are folded over a plurality of times, the strap will initially be inherently relatively stiff and the edge portions will have a natural tendency to unfold. In order to render the strap relatively flexible and pliable and also to set the folds, a continuous succession of adjacent creases are formed transversely of the strap throughout the full length thereof, each of the creases being furthermore formed in all of the superimposed layers of paper of each of the folded edge portions. As shown in Fig. 4 this is accomplished by drawing the strap through a plurality of relatively sharp bends in opposite directions such as over a number of suitably arranged, relatively small diameter rods or rollers as indicated at 24. As shown in the exaggerated enlarged view of Fig. 9 the strap in passing over one of the rolls 24 tends to buckle as indicated at 26 adjacent the forward surface of the roller due to the difference in radius of curvature between the inner and outer layers of the strap. As the buckled portions pass around the roller creases are formed in the .paper from the innermost to the outermost layers. As the strap is passed in opposite directions over a pluality of such rollers a multiplicity of such creases are formed from both sides of the strap and as a result the strap is rendered relatively pliable and the folds are compressed and firmly set. The creases thus formed are indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 28, and it will be observed that these creases extend across substantially the entire width of the strap. From the flexing rolls 24 the strap is wound up on the reel 29 which after being wound to a desired diameter or footage may be removed from the machine.

In the perspective view of Fig. is illustrated a further modification of the method of the invention and with particular regard to the creasing or crimping oi the strap. In this case, the strap after leaving the folding mechanism 23 is passed between a pair of cooperating corrugated rollers 3| and 32, the corrugations of the two rollers interhtting with each other with a slight space therebetween slightly greater than the thickness of the strap whereby the strap is provided with a multiplicity of creases 33 extending transverseiy of the strap and closely adjacent each other throughout the entire length thereof.

As in the case previously described, the strap in passing between the rollers is compressed to set the folds whiie the creases render the strap relatively flexible and pliable.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each of the opposite edge portions of the paper strap are folded over three times to provide a strap of four thicknesses of paper. It is obvious that in the event that it is desired to provide a strap of increased tensi.e strength the number of folds, or the number of layers of paper, may be increased as desired. In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the opposite edge portions of the strap are shown folded over four times. In the mod fications illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 the opposite edge portions are shown folded over upon themselves a plurality of times but in a slightly different manner than in the previously described forms.

The paper strap of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in forming handles for bags or cartons. strap is relatively wide the flat end surfaces thereof present areas of considerable size so that these surfaces may be readily adheslvely secured to the surfaces of the bag or carton with a relatively strong bond therebetween. In Fig. 11 is shown a length of strap attached to the upper end of a paper package 34 forming a handle 35 by means of which the package may be carried.

The end portions of the strap handle are secured. I

Due to the factthat the the strength of the bond of attachment corresponds substantialiy with the tensile strength of the handle itself and also in accordance with the strength of the material forming the surlace of the package to which the handle is attached.

lhe paper strap of the present invention is also suitable for use in tying bundles or packages. String or cord has heretofore been commonly employed for such purposes but it is well known that when round cord is used in tying up such articles as bund-es of soft wood the round cord cuts into the corner edges of the wood and furthermore when a plurality of such tight bundles are stacked on top of each other the weight of the upper bundles compresses the cords between the lower bundles into the adjacent surfaces of the wood. The outermost layers of wood are thus seriously damaged if not destroyed beyond usefulness and in attempts to prevent such mutiiation of the wood it has been common practice heretofore to provide a preliminary wrapping of corrugated paperboard around the bundles underneath the twine. Such a tying procedure is expensive and cumbersome. Paper strap of the present invention is well adapted for use in tying such packages and in Fig. 12 is illustrated a package tied with paper strap. The package 4d in this instance is surrounded by a length of paper strap 4| the opposite ends of which are suitably secured together such as by means of metal staples 42 driven therethrough.

Having described the invention in what are considered to be typical embodiments thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the specific details and forms shown and described are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means. It is intended, therefore, in the present claim to cover all such variations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

Paper strap consisting of a continuous flat strip of relatively thin tough paper, the opposite edge portions of said strip being folded over upon itself a plurality of times, the folded edge portions ex-- tending in a nonoverlapplng relation and substantially meeting afong the center line on the same side of said strap and throughout the entire length thereof, a continuous succession of adjacent creases each extending transversely of said strap throughout the full length thereof, said creases extending substantially across the entire width of said strap said creases each being formed in all of the superimposed layers of the strap and serving to render said strap relatively flexible, the fo' ded edges of said layers being tightly compacted for effecting setting thereof, said 13.11331 strap being inelastic and substantially smooth on its outer surfaces.

\ JAY D. CRARY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,242,698 Jacobs Oct. 9, 1917 2,219,115 Sackner et a1 Oct. 22, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,326 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1930 

